RallyNorth.net

Fri, Dec 13, 2019 07:00 PM @ North Andover

Team	1	2	3	4	Final
Lawrence	23	13	20	21	77
North Andover	15	15	14	13	57

Lawrence 77, North Andover 57

Friday, December, 13 By Dave Dyer
Staff writer

NORTH ANDOVER — It appears that all that offseason shooting practice may pay off for the Lawrence basketball team.

Yes, it was only the season opener, but the Lancers took turns drilling 3-pointers in a 77-57 victory over North Andover Friday night and, overall, had 12 trifectas on 29 attempts.

Often looking more like a Western Conference NBA team, the Lancers either drove to the basket with abandon or stepped back to fire up a 3-pointer.

And it wasn’t just one or two Lawrence players who were firing it up. Five different players sank 3-pointers with Jeremiah Melendez, Angel Herrera and Brandon Goris all sinking three of them.

“We were probably the worst shooting team in the league last year but the kids put in a lot of (shooting) work,” said Lawrence coach Jesus Moore. “If they put in the work, I want to trust them.

“The other thing is that North Andover had a good game plan and really packed it in. They wanted us to shoot out there.”

The Lancers showed their intent from the start, drilling five 3-pointers in the first quarter, allowing them to take a 23-15 lead heading into the second frame. Behind seniors Jack Morin and Kyle Moore, the Knights kept it close in the second quarter and only trailed at the half, 36-30, but Lawrence began pulling away in the third quarter and put the game out of reach early in the fourth quarter.

Showing their depth and experience (all five starters are seniors), Lawrence put five players in double figures. Goris and sophomore super sub Abraham Estrada led the way with 16 points apiece while Gabriel Zorrilla had 14, including 10 in the second half. Both Melendez and Herrera finished with 13.

Although there were some forced shots and sloppy turnovers at times, Moore was generally pleased with his club’s performance.

“We want to play at a fast pace, so we’re going to make mistakes,” said the second-year Lancer coach. “And inconsistency is going to happen in a first game. We’re a work in progress, but I thought we did pretty well.”

As for the rebuilding Knights, Morin showed an uncanny ability to get free under the basket and led all scorers with 20 points while Moore finished with 17, nine coming on 3-pointers in the second half. Matt Kutz played a strong first half during which he scored all eight of his points.

North Andover shot well from the floor (22 of 48) but they were only 7 of 13 from the free throw line and were hurt by 23 turnovers, 14 of which came in the second half.

“In spurts, I thought we were okay defensively, and also on offense, but against a team like Lawrence, you have to play well for four quarters,” said North Andover coach Paul Tanglis, whose senior-laden club last year made the Division 2 North final.

“We just have a lot of work to do.”

 

Lawrence 77, North Andover 57

LAWRENCE (77): N. Diaz 0-0-0, Estrada 6-2-16, Duran 0-0-0, Melendez 5-0-13, Herrera 5-0-13, Goris 5-3-16, Pabon 0-0-0, Castro 0-0-0, Tejeda 2-0-5, Zorrilla 6-2-14, Mendez 0-0-0. Totals 29-7-77.

NORTH ANDOVER (57): Kutz 3-1-8, Morin 9-0-20, Castellanos 0-1-1, Moore 6-2-17, Connolly 1-3-5, King 1-0-2, Wolinski 0-0-0, Williams 2-0-4. Totals 22-7-57

3-pointers: LAW — Estrada 2, Melendez 3, Herrera 3, Goris 3, Tejeda; NA — Kutz, Morin 2, Moore 3

Lawrence (1-0):     23 13 20 21 — 77

North Andover (0-1):     15 15 14 13 — 57

 

 

 

Additional stories:

• Lawrence 77, North Andover 57